Yeah... I wanted to get some exercise and pick up some paper sleeves so I went to antones.
I got the 5th dimesion by the Byrds for 5 bucks. It's sort of more psychedelic (I think there's the sound of a jet on one of the tracks). How cool!
And I got a secret record for swapping with my friend. Let's just say that this band traded their big green album for a big yellow album from a band from Olympia.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Greatest American Garage Band of the Sixties?
Ok... so I listened to Da Capo and it was pretty good. As I've previously noted, the jam is stupid... I mean who wants to listen to a four minute song over twenty minutes. I only got about half way through before I gave up. Jams are never a good idea for recorded music. NEVER. Anyways, it got me thinking... What was the best garage band of the sixites? So I've decided to find out. However, there are some conditions: The majority of the band members have to be American (if this works out maybe I'll do British bands), the band's debut album had to be released during the sixties, and they had to have an album. Singles are great but I'm not going to try to track down obscure singles. I just don't like singles that much. I'm going to start with all the bands of Nuggets. I'm sort of weary about bands like Captain Beefheart, but I mean I guess I'll trust Lenny Kayne's judgment. Still there are some bands that weren't listed that definitely count. I mean how can you ignore the stooges, the mc5, and the velvet underground? Well anyways... I'm making a list. I'll update it as I review more and more stuff.
Friday, June 25, 2010
6/25 Backspin Records
How do you know if you've gone to a good record store? (I know it sounds like a bad joke) Well if you come out with an armful of classics, that's usually a good sign.
I was driving around and I saw this record store (it was too late for me to go in there when I was initially). They're pretty good, everything is priced really good and they have a pretty big selection. Every record store has to have it's thing and this one is all about DJ stuff, so if you're into that stuff this is the store for you. Still they have a wall dedicated to rock. There were some things that really bugged me though... They didn't have any captain beefheart or david bowie. Sure beefheart is more understandable, but no bowie? Come on...
Anyways... the records
Beggar's Banquet by the Stones -- 10
Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) by the Stones -- 5
Da Capo by Love -- 5
VU by The velvet underground (reissue) -- 13
Terror Twilight by Pavement (reissue) -- 12
Trans-europe Express by Kraftwerk -- 9
If you're new to shops remember these things.
1) Always play the record to check for condition (Although this store's records were really really really clean)
2) Always go through the new arrival bin. I swear, really good deals are always in there. This time both beggar's banquet and trans-europe express were in there.
Ok so Beggar's Banquet. This record marked the end of early stones and the beginning of classic stones. Sure the early stuff is great but this is the first album that's on a higher level completely. I mean how can you go wrong? It starts off with sympathy for the devil, and mid way it gets more energy on street fighting man and it caps off with the glorious salt of the earth. As I said, this album returns to a more bluesish sound after the psychedelic their satanic majesties request. Still a great record. (I got the 1986 reissue with the intended cover, the 1968 was just white with letters on it).
Big Hits is a compilation from their first five albums. Eh... it's sort of a stand in until I find those first five albums for decent prices... Hell how can you not have I can't Get No Satisifaction or get off of my cloud in your collection.
Terror Twilight was pavement's last album. It was produced by Nigel Godrich who frequently worked with radiohead and beck sometimes... It's so much different from slanted and enchanted and you can really tell how much they've grown up. It's got some really mellow tracks but some classics too. I don't know if I'm impressed by Nigel... he called cut my hair "the special haircut song"...
The first three velvet underground albums were on Verve/MGM. Verve dropped them because they weren't selling (surprise). But they were in the process of working on the fourth album for Verve... these are some of those tracks and some others. It's pretty cool, stephanie says is great. Oh... speaking of the velvets, Backspin had their fifth offical release "Squeeze". If it wasn't so expensive or mediocre I would have gotten it. But how good could an album with only Doug Yule, Mo Tucker, Sterling Morris, and some other guy be? I mean it sort of falls apart without lou. Oh... and the price for this record was great because the label is selling it for 17.
I was really surprised at seeing kraftwerk. If you don't know who they are, let me explain kraut rock. During the 70's in germany a lot of bands starting coming up with an emphasis on continuous chugging rhythm. Kraftwerk fits in but they're more interested in electronics so they're pretty influential to techno and the like. I haven't heard this album before, but I'm looking forward to it.
Da Capo (or the other love record) is one of those records that you always see reissues of. Arthur Lee's sort of interesting because, besides Jimi Hendrix, He seems to be the only black musician into psych rock during the 60's. Anyways, this album has the classic Seven and Seven Is. I was sort of freaked out when I was looking at the record though. The second side is one track! Apparently it's a jam... oh boy.... Oh... once again, the original of this record is FAR cheaper than the reissue (20 bucks). Sure it's not 180 gram or virgin vinyl, but that shouldn't cost four times the amount.
I was driving around and I saw this record store (it was too late for me to go in there when I was initially). They're pretty good, everything is priced really good and they have a pretty big selection. Every record store has to have it's thing and this one is all about DJ stuff, so if you're into that stuff this is the store for you. Still they have a wall dedicated to rock. There were some things that really bugged me though... They didn't have any captain beefheart or david bowie. Sure beefheart is more understandable, but no bowie? Come on...
Anyways... the records
Beggar's Banquet by the Stones -- 10
Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) by the Stones -- 5
Da Capo by Love -- 5
VU by The velvet underground (reissue) -- 13
Terror Twilight by Pavement (reissue) -- 12
Trans-europe Express by Kraftwerk -- 9
If you're new to shops remember these things.
1) Always play the record to check for condition (Although this store's records were really really really clean)
2) Always go through the new arrival bin. I swear, really good deals are always in there. This time both beggar's banquet and trans-europe express were in there.
Ok so Beggar's Banquet. This record marked the end of early stones and the beginning of classic stones. Sure the early stuff is great but this is the first album that's on a higher level completely. I mean how can you go wrong? It starts off with sympathy for the devil, and mid way it gets more energy on street fighting man and it caps off with the glorious salt of the earth. As I said, this album returns to a more bluesish sound after the psychedelic their satanic majesties request. Still a great record. (I got the 1986 reissue with the intended cover, the 1968 was just white with letters on it).
Big Hits is a compilation from their first five albums. Eh... it's sort of a stand in until I find those first five albums for decent prices... Hell how can you not have I can't Get No Satisifaction or get off of my cloud in your collection.
Terror Twilight was pavement's last album. It was produced by Nigel Godrich who frequently worked with radiohead and beck sometimes... It's so much different from slanted and enchanted and you can really tell how much they've grown up. It's got some really mellow tracks but some classics too. I don't know if I'm impressed by Nigel... he called cut my hair "the special haircut song"...
The first three velvet underground albums were on Verve/MGM. Verve dropped them because they weren't selling (surprise). But they were in the process of working on the fourth album for Verve... these are some of those tracks and some others. It's pretty cool, stephanie says is great. Oh... speaking of the velvets, Backspin had their fifth offical release "Squeeze". If it wasn't so expensive or mediocre I would have gotten it. But how good could an album with only Doug Yule, Mo Tucker, Sterling Morris, and some other guy be? I mean it sort of falls apart without lou. Oh... and the price for this record was great because the label is selling it for 17.
I was really surprised at seeing kraftwerk. If you don't know who they are, let me explain kraut rock. During the 70's in germany a lot of bands starting coming up with an emphasis on continuous chugging rhythm. Kraftwerk fits in but they're more interested in electronics so they're pretty influential to techno and the like. I haven't heard this album before, but I'm looking forward to it.
Da Capo (or the other love record) is one of those records that you always see reissues of. Arthur Lee's sort of interesting because, besides Jimi Hendrix, He seems to be the only black musician into psych rock during the 60's. Anyways, this album has the classic Seven and Seven Is. I was sort of freaked out when I was looking at the record though. The second side is one track! Apparently it's a jam... oh boy.... Oh... once again, the original of this record is FAR cheaper than the reissue (20 bucks). Sure it's not 180 gram or virgin vinyl, but that shouldn't cost four times the amount.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
6/22 Half Price Books N Lamar
Yeah... I listened to Exile In Guyville all day at work. I couldn't help but get whip smart and I've known it was there for quite some time.
Records--
Whip Smart by Liz Phair -- 20
Scott Joplin (performed by Dick Hyman) -- 3
Count Meets the Duke First Time by Count Basie and Duke Ellington -- 10
Blaze by Herman's Hermits -- 5
Hello Dolly by Louis Armstrong -- 6
Ok... So Whip Smart is totally underrated. It's hard to follow up from guyville but, guyville had the advantage of taking any of the songs from girlysound so it's not really fair (no pun intended). Still, if you're going to complain that the version of whip smart is "ingenuous" or "ironic" because it has animal sounds, you should be complaining that phair totally didn't do the second section of Girls! Girls! Girls! or she didn't mimic the stones on Shatter. So it's sort of give and take. If you want the girlysound versions, listen to that, but if you want something else, give Whip smart a shot.
Scott Joplin... yeah. I went through the jazz section because there was a guy hovering over the s' (he was looking for styx... ew....) Anyways. It was pretty cheap and it's pretty good.
Yeah I really dig duke ellington and this collaboration is pretty cool. It's got both band's sort of signature tracks (take the A train and jumpin at the woodside) so it's cool.
I think the best one of the jazz records that I got was Hello Dolly. I mean sure it's not the classic armstrong of the twenties or anything like that but it is really good all around. It's sort of weird to think that Louis was 63 years old when he made it, but it's whatever I guess.
The herman's hermits album is a little bit harder to explain. I got it for two reasons: 1) Joey ramone once described punk as "a sixties rip-off band" and mentioned HH and 2) The cover is bad ass. I've been really digging the 60's lately and the kaleidoscopic cover got me. Music wise it's pretty standard for the time which isn't bad, although expected.
Records--
Whip Smart by Liz Phair -- 20
Scott Joplin (performed by Dick Hyman) -- 3
Count Meets the Duke First Time by Count Basie and Duke Ellington -- 10
Blaze by Herman's Hermits -- 5
Hello Dolly by Louis Armstrong -- 6
Ok... So Whip Smart is totally underrated. It's hard to follow up from guyville but, guyville had the advantage of taking any of the songs from girlysound so it's not really fair (no pun intended). Still, if you're going to complain that the version of whip smart is "ingenuous" or "ironic" because it has animal sounds, you should be complaining that phair totally didn't do the second section of Girls! Girls! Girls! or she didn't mimic the stones on Shatter. So it's sort of give and take. If you want the girlysound versions, listen to that, but if you want something else, give Whip smart a shot.
Scott Joplin... yeah. I went through the jazz section because there was a guy hovering over the s' (he was looking for styx... ew....) Anyways. It was pretty cheap and it's pretty good.
Yeah I really dig duke ellington and this collaboration is pretty cool. It's got both band's sort of signature tracks (take the A train and jumpin at the woodside) so it's cool.
I think the best one of the jazz records that I got was Hello Dolly. I mean sure it's not the classic armstrong of the twenties or anything like that but it is really good all around. It's sort of weird to think that Louis was 63 years old when he made it, but it's whatever I guess.
The herman's hermits album is a little bit harder to explain. I got it for two reasons: 1) Joey ramone once described punk as "a sixties rip-off band" and mentioned HH and 2) The cover is bad ass. I've been really digging the 60's lately and the kaleidoscopic cover got me. Music wise it's pretty standard for the time which isn't bad, although expected.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
6/18 Breakaway
Ok... I've been looking for revolver but I haven't been able to find it anywhere, I figured they would have it. They didn't... But they did have some cool records...
Holland by the Beach Boys -- 6
Sunflower by the Beach boys -- 1
Queen by Queen -- 5
1st by The BeeGees -- 7
Nothing Scary by Wild Man Fischer -- 8
Ok... So Holland and Sunflower aren't the Beach Boys most well known albums, but they're really good. After pet sounds the beach boys started getting real interesting because Brian wasn't at the helm any more. So all of the band members started writing songs. Don't get me wrong, Brian was definitely the best song writer of the bunch but it's all more strange. Sunflower isn't in the best shape, but it was in the 1$ rock section so I'll take it.
Yeah... I think queen's debut will be interesting. I'm looking forward to it.
Now the BeeGees are more interesting. First, I found a single in the sleeve by the Meters. I had looked up the Meters before (and I had heard these songs before) so that was cool. I don't know if the clerk threw it in (breakaway is known for their big selection of soul/r&b singles). Anyways... on to the actual album. It's really good. All except for one song... I don't know who sings on "I Can't See Nobody" but they shouldn't sing any more... I mean come on... all of the other guys have pretty nice voices. Oh... If you a fan of Guided By Voices, definitely pick this up. It really shows where some of their sound came from.
Wild Man Fischer. Why would anyone want an album with 34 tracks, each of which performed by a guy who screams his songs with a scarily excited joy? I mean looking at the record is hillarious... there are about 18 songs on each side. Still, you can't find this album anywhere. It's from the 80's, and I think it was only released on cd as a bundle called Fischer King which was released ten or twenty years ago. Still, any album by wild man fischer is truly one of a kind.
Holland by the Beach Boys -- 6
Sunflower by the Beach boys -- 1
Queen by Queen -- 5
1st by The BeeGees -- 7
Nothing Scary by Wild Man Fischer -- 8
Ok... So Holland and Sunflower aren't the Beach Boys most well known albums, but they're really good. After pet sounds the beach boys started getting real interesting because Brian wasn't at the helm any more. So all of the band members started writing songs. Don't get me wrong, Brian was definitely the best song writer of the bunch but it's all more strange. Sunflower isn't in the best shape, but it was in the 1$ rock section so I'll take it.
Yeah... I think queen's debut will be interesting. I'm looking forward to it.
Now the BeeGees are more interesting. First, I found a single in the sleeve by the Meters. I had looked up the Meters before (and I had heard these songs before) so that was cool. I don't know if the clerk threw it in (breakaway is known for their big selection of soul/r&b singles). Anyways... on to the actual album. It's really good. All except for one song... I don't know who sings on "I Can't See Nobody" but they shouldn't sing any more... I mean come on... all of the other guys have pretty nice voices. Oh... If you a fan of Guided By Voices, definitely pick this up. It really shows where some of their sound came from.
Wild Man Fischer. Why would anyone want an album with 34 tracks, each of which performed by a guy who screams his songs with a scarily excited joy? I mean looking at the record is hillarious... there are about 18 songs on each side. Still, you can't find this album anywhere. It's from the 80's, and I think it was only released on cd as a bundle called Fischer King which was released ten or twenty years ago. Still, any album by wild man fischer is truly one of a kind.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
6/15 Antones Records
I hadn't been to Antone's in a while, I had a coupon, and I was feeling down... so I went.
This time they had a lot of good stuff in new arrivals.
Records---
Let it Be by the Beatles -- 10
Mr. Tambourine Man by the Byrds -- 8
Goat Head Soup by the stones -- 8
Horses by Patti Smith -- 13
Yeah... I guess I'm really digging the beatles right now. I really want a copy of revolver though.
Mr. Tambourine Man was a pretty sweet find at that price. They have had a reissue for about a year for 20 bucks so I'm glad I got this one cheap.
Now I've been looking for Goat Head Soup for a while, it's pretty sweet that they had a copy in pretty good condition. I look forward to star star.
Horses was the real find though. I don't usually see punk records so it's cool. Turns out it's a original pressing on artista which is cool too. Lenny Kaye, the guitarist, made nuggets. Ah... just looking at the back makes me think of the whole scene, especially sonic youth. "kool system of destine wax sculpt" reminds me of them.
I guess I'm just looking for classics, which isn't a bad thing. I'm sure I'll need something to cancel out really obscure records like the verlaines... ah well...
This time they had a lot of good stuff in new arrivals.
Records---
Let it Be by the Beatles -- 10
Mr. Tambourine Man by the Byrds -- 8
Goat Head Soup by the stones -- 8
Horses by Patti Smith -- 13
Yeah... I guess I'm really digging the beatles right now. I really want a copy of revolver though.
Mr. Tambourine Man was a pretty sweet find at that price. They have had a reissue for about a year for 20 bucks so I'm glad I got this one cheap.
Now I've been looking for Goat Head Soup for a while, it's pretty sweet that they had a copy in pretty good condition. I look forward to star star.
Horses was the real find though. I don't usually see punk records so it's cool. Turns out it's a original pressing on artista which is cool too. Lenny Kaye, the guitarist, made nuggets. Ah... just looking at the back makes me think of the whole scene, especially sonic youth. "kool system of destine wax sculpt" reminds me of them.
I guess I'm just looking for classics, which isn't a bad thing. I'm sure I'll need something to cancel out really obscure records like the verlaines... ah well...
Friday, June 11, 2010
6/11 Waterloo Records
First off let me start by saying that waterloo records is my favorite record store for reissues. They've got a really good selection and their labels make it really easy to go through stuff really fast. However I do have some problems... I don't understand how they can have every other reissue by 4 men with beards, except judee sill... come on! Also... what is it with reissues costing more than 15 bucks? I saw a reissue of cat steven's Mona Bone Jakon going for 20 bucks when they had a perfectly good used copy for 4. I can understand profit, but did it really cost 15 bucks to make a record? Cat stevens isn't that hard to find, so there's no reason for a 20 dollar price tag.
Anyways on to the records...
Wowee Zowee by Pavement -- 14
Brighten the Corners by Pavement --10
Dreamy by Beat Happening -- 14
Blues and Roots by Charlie Mingus -- 12
Odessa by The Brothers Gibb -- 5
Who Are You -- 4
Jump! by Van Dyke Parks --4
Ok... so I think the pavement albums are the most obvious. What's not to like about pavement? Lo fi-ish... Fun... Indie rock... What more could a girl want? Anyways, Brighten the Corners is my favorite, Wowee's number two. I'll probably pick up Terror Twilight sometime in the near future.
Dreamy. The second to last beat happening album. I really liked You Turn Me On, Black Candy still but less so. I figure this album should hopefully be a nice in between.
Now for the kicker. That's Right... A JAZZ RECORD... I NEVER see Mingus anywhere, but he definitely is my favorite jazz musician. I got this one because it was the one I was least familiar with (I had already heard the clown and Philanthropus erectus). Anyways it has moaning so I'm looking forward to it.
Now for the used records. This copy of odessa is freakish. Odessa was a double album but this is a single lp. It turns out in the late seventies when they did another pressing, they decided to cut down to one disc. I guess that's what you get when the original has a felt cover with golden letters.
Who are you? Who couldn't use some more of the who? "The last reasonably interesting who record"--AMG
Ok... now for the real find. Jump! by Van Dyke Parks. I got into VDP when I was into smile, the brian wilson album where vdp wrote the words. Song Cycle is really good just because it makes you think about structure. That album is due for a reissue!
see you in two weeks!
Anyways on to the records...
Wowee Zowee by Pavement -- 14
Brighten the Corners by Pavement --10
Dreamy by Beat Happening -- 14
Blues and Roots by Charlie Mingus -- 12
Odessa by The Brothers Gibb -- 5
Who Are You -- 4
Jump! by Van Dyke Parks --4
Ok... so I think the pavement albums are the most obvious. What's not to like about pavement? Lo fi-ish... Fun... Indie rock... What more could a girl want? Anyways, Brighten the Corners is my favorite, Wowee's number two. I'll probably pick up Terror Twilight sometime in the near future.
Dreamy. The second to last beat happening album. I really liked You Turn Me On, Black Candy still but less so. I figure this album should hopefully be a nice in between.
Now for the kicker. That's Right... A JAZZ RECORD... I NEVER see Mingus anywhere, but he definitely is my favorite jazz musician. I got this one because it was the one I was least familiar with (I had already heard the clown and Philanthropus erectus). Anyways it has moaning so I'm looking forward to it.
Now for the used records. This copy of odessa is freakish. Odessa was a double album but this is a single lp. It turns out in the late seventies when they did another pressing, they decided to cut down to one disc. I guess that's what you get when the original has a felt cover with golden letters.
Who are you? Who couldn't use some more of the who? "The last reasonably interesting who record"--AMG
Ok... now for the real find. Jump! by Van Dyke Parks. I got into VDP when I was into smile, the brian wilson album where vdp wrote the words. Song Cycle is really good just because it makes you think about structure. That album is due for a reissue!
see you in two weeks!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Seizure Chris Knox Song by Song Review
Ok.... Chris Knox has gotten a lot of press lately because he had a stroke and Jeff Magnum did a song on his tribute. Anyways, I'm going to review the album Seizure. This one's notable because the cover is the one Stroke is based on. Anyways... On to the songs
1.Face of Fashion
Sort of lackadaisical opener. Sort of freakish
2.The Woman Inside Of Me
A stupid song about being a guy. Knowing that he has a woman inside of him makes him feel superior because he thinks women are. However, most people don't think women are superior, so he's good either way.
3.Statement Of Intent
Piss off about New Zealand music industry.
4.Filling Me
Another slower song like the opener. Good flow
5. Not Given Lightly
A song for the morning after. You'll listen to it over and over and over again.
6. Break!
I can't make out what he's saying half the time. It seems like another angry song.
7. Uncle Tom's Cabin
Quiet. Alot of stuff about being brutally tortured and just taking it.
8. Wanna!!
Louder. More stuff about torture. Response to before?
9. And I Will Cry
About doing crazy stuff to not break up
10. Rapist
Well hopefully you should be able to guess what this about.
11.Grand Mal
Lyrics are obscured but it's a killer frying pan groove!
12. Voyeur
An invitation to Participation.
13. Honesty's Not Enough
Honesty doesn't change anything!
14. My Dumb Luck
Chris Knox is lucky...
15. Ache
This song makes a great closer. Pain of the ending.
1.Face of Fashion
Sort of lackadaisical opener. Sort of freakish
2.The Woman Inside Of Me
A stupid song about being a guy. Knowing that he has a woman inside of him makes him feel superior because he thinks women are. However, most people don't think women are superior, so he's good either way.
3.Statement Of Intent
Piss off about New Zealand music industry.
4.Filling Me
Another slower song like the opener. Good flow
5. Not Given Lightly
A song for the morning after. You'll listen to it over and over and over again.
6. Break!
I can't make out what he's saying half the time. It seems like another angry song.
7. Uncle Tom's Cabin
Quiet. Alot of stuff about being brutally tortured and just taking it.
8. Wanna!!
Louder. More stuff about torture. Response to before?
9. And I Will Cry
About doing crazy stuff to not break up
10. Rapist
Well hopefully you should be able to guess what this about.
11.Grand Mal
Lyrics are obscured but it's a killer frying pan groove!
12. Voyeur
An invitation to Participation.
13. Honesty's Not Enough
Honesty doesn't change anything!
14. My Dumb Luck
Chris Knox is lucky...
15. Ache
This song makes a great closer. Pain of the ending.
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